Rafa Benitez Happy to be Linked with Real Madrid Hot Seat

Chelsea manager Rafa Benitez has maintained that he is fully focused on helping Chelsea enjoy a successful end to the season but has admitted that he is happy to hear his name linked with the Real Madrid managerial role.

There has been plenty of speculation over recent weeks that current Madrid boss Jose Mourinho will leave the Bernebeu at the end of the season, with some reports suggesting he may even return to Chelsea.

Rafa Benitez is happy to be linked with the managerial role at Real Madrid. [Reuters]

This has led to a host of managers being linked with Real Madrid and Benitez made it clear that he still has very strong ties with the club.

"I know Real Madrid well as a club, I was there from the age of 13 years old as a player and also as a coach," Benitez told Marca. "Moreover, I am from Madrid. It's nice that they link you in one way or another, but it does not make me lose my concentration on my current team and that is Chelsea."

The former Liverpool manager refused to comment on the future of Mourinho, but he did reveal that he was once in the running for the Real Madrid managerial post when he was in charge at Anfield.

"José Mourinho is the Real Madrid coach. I have a rule that I don't talk about the coaches of other teams. I'm concentrating on my own and that is enough for me," continued Benitez.

"Everybody knows that if you are at a club, as I was at Liverpool, it's always more positive than negative to keep your word, even if it means you have to give up something as attractive as Real Madrid was."

Benitez has confirmed that he will leave Chelsea at the end of the season but he is keen to once again bring the best out of striker Fernando Torres who flourished under the Spanish boss at Liverpool.

"It's true that Fernando's goal tallies are lower than they were at Liverpool. There he had a good understanding with Gerrard and the quick style of play helped him a lot," Benitez added.

"Now the defenders here know him better but he still has 19 goals. The problem is people judge Torres by what he cost but that has nothing to do with making a judgment on his performances. It's only a question of time before he scores more goals."

Torres did score twice against Rubin Kazan and Benitez will be hoping his goals can help fire Chelsea to Europa League glory and a place in next season's Champions League.